Machine for severing stay-bolts.



G. S. LOWE.

MAGHINE FOR SEVERING STAY BOLTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1908.

Patented June 22, 1909.

SHEET 1.

G. S. LOWE.

MACHINE FOR SEVERING STAY BOLTS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 17, 1902.

' SETS-SHEET 2.

Patented June 22, 1909.

IIIII e. s. LOWE. MACHINE FOR SEVERING STAY BOLTS.

, APPLICATION rum) JUNE 17, 190B. 9g-5 91, Patented June 22,1909.

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GROVER S. LOWE, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAMS, WHITE & COMPANY, A

. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR SEVERING STAY-BOLTS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GnovnR S. Lown, of Moline, county of Rock Island, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for severing Stay-Bolts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for severing or cutting stay bolts and the, like, which machines are known inthe trade as stay bolt breakers, and the invention is designed more particularly for severing the bolts which connect fire boxes to boilers, the objects of the invention being to provide a device for this purpose which will be strong and durable in construction, powerful and rapid in action, and which is portable so that it may be moved from place to place in the shops and readily applied to the work to be acted on.

lVith these ends in view, my approved apparatus embodies primarily a cutting member, controllable power means for actuating the same to sever the bolts, and controllable power means for sustaining the cutter in operative relation, to the bolts so that the cutter will adjust, itself automatically in cutting relation to the successive bolts of a row and will be held in the most effective position relative to the bolts to perform the cut ting action.

In its more specific embodiment, the cutter head is carried on the end of a barprojecting into the forward end of a cylinder, in

which is mounted, to slide freely back and forth, a piston or ram adapted, when pressure is admitted behind it, to be propelled rapidly forward and-strike the end of the rod a forcible blow, by which action the bolt will be severed. Cotiperating with this cylinder is a second cylinder rigidly connected withthe first whose piston, under constant pressure, acts on a chain 'or other flexible connection, between the cylinders and the boiler or other work operated on, in such manner that ittends to draw thetwo cylinders up to the work, thereby maintaining the cutter head in'forcible but yielding engagement'with the bolt to be severed, and acting when the boltis cut, to automatically thrust the cutter head forward and engage it with the next bolt.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ma- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 22, I909.

chine, showing the same applied to a locomotive boiler to sever the bolts connecting the tire box. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the" machine on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the same. F1gs.4 and 5 are diagrammatic views,

partly in section, of the controlling valve for the cutter actuating cylinder, showing the valve 111 one of its different positions. Figs.

6 and 7 are similar to Figs. t and 5, showing.

the valve mechanism in a different position. Referrmg to the draw ngs :A represents the cylinder which operates the cutter; which for convenience of description I designate the cutter actuating cylinder, and B represents the second cylinder, which for convenience of description I term the pressure cylinder, which'cylinders are connected fixedly together, the pressure cylinder above and parallel with the other, by means of a bracket 1 at the front and a bracket 2 at the rear. The lower ends of these brackets have extensions l and 1 depending therefrom which contain alining guide openings to receive a guide rod C adapted to be secured temporarily at its forward end to the boiler or other work acted on, and on which guide rod the two connected cylinders are free to slide, for the purpose presentlyto be described.

D represents the cutter head fixed to the forward end of a rod or stem d -extending at its rear end, as at d, ashort distance into the forward'end of the cutter actuating cyl-.

inder and provided outside the cylinder with a shoulder (Z abutting against the front of the cylinder, the said head being formed with a V-notch having cutting edges .adapted to straddle the bolt to be cut.

E represents the cutter actuating piston or ram, in the form of a' heavy solid cylinf drical block sliding freely within the cutter actuating cylinder, and acting, on the admis:

sion' of pressure into the rear end of said cylinder by means of a controlling valve 3, to be propelled rapidly forward and to strike the end (Z of the cutter stem a forcible blow and thereby sever the bolt, the return of the ram for the next stroke, being effected by the admission of pressure into the forward end of the cylinder in frontof the ram through apipe t, as will be pres ently described. I

I represents the piston of the pressure cylinder, whose piston rod fextends through the guide rod (Land the end of cylinder A i a constant pressure on the piston.

the forward end of the cylinder and-carries a pulley f.

G represents a chain connected at one end to the bracket 1, whence it passes over the pulley f rearwardly and around a pulley g mounted on the bracket 2, and finally for ward, its free end being adapted to be fastened to the boiler or other objeetracted on,

I so that the pressure in the cylinder acting in rear of the. piston will serve to urge it forward and will cause the pulley 7" to strain on the chain, with'the result that the two cylinders will be pulled forward along by abutting against the shoulder on the cutter stein. will hold the cutter head with its V-notch tightly straddling the bolt to be severed.

As shown in Figs. l, 5 G and 7, the valve 3 for controlling the pressure to the cutter actuating cylinder is of cylindrical form,

and is mounted in a cylindrical casing 3 supplied with pressure, either air or steam, from any suitable source through pipe '3;;er,- tering one side of the casing. of the cylinder connects with the valve casing by pipe (5, which enters the opposite side of the casing, while the forward end of the cylinder connects with the valve casing by pipe 4;, entering through the side of the easing by port '7. The valve proper is formed with a port 8 for the admission of pressure to the rear end of the cylinder,- with a port 9 for the admission of pressure to the forward end of the cylinder and with an exdaaust port l0,comnnniicaling with an haust opening 11. in the sidcbf the casing, which ports may by the oscillation of the ,valve, be so adjusted that in one position,

.the cylinder for the next stroke.

In the use of the machine, it is preferably suspended by flexible means from some overhead support, as shown in Fig.1, so that it may be advanced along its guide rod and act on the successive bolts. The forward end of the guide red C and the free end of chain G are, by suitable means, fastened to the boiler near its front, the cutter head engaged with'lhc bolt lo bcsevercd H10 two Y inders drawn up along the guide rod until the fol-You'd end of cylinder .3 abuts against the shoulder on the cutlcrba r stein. Pressure now admitted to cylinder B by a.

valve 1) and the valve left open so as to exert This will result in forcing the cutter head firmly The rear e d.

port will register with port 9.

in this manner the belts in. the

against. the bolt ready to receive the stroke of the ram. Valve 2 is next turned to the position shown in Fig. (3 by shifting its operating handle 2:)" to the rear, with the result that the rear end of-the cylinder will be opened to exhaust, and pressure admitted through pipe :l to the forward end in front of the rain, and the latter will by this means be forced back to the rear end of the cylinder. The ope 'ating handle 3" is then thrown forward to the position shown in Fig. l, which will shift the valve so that its port 8 will register with port (5, and the exhaust This will admit pressure to the rear end of the cylinder and the ram will be propelled rapidly forward and strike the end of the cutter bar stem a violent blow, thereby severing the bolt. The obstruction to the advance of the machine, which had been otlcred by the bolt just Severed, being new removed, piston F under constant pressure moves forward some distance, thereby pushing on chain G, pulling the two cylinders forward on their guide bar and causing the cutter to. be thrust forward automatically until it comes up against the next bolt in the row, in which position it will be firmly held as before.- Valve 3 is new again turned back to return the rain to the rear end of the cylinder, and the operations described are repeated, and row are severed in quick succession, the ma chine after each cutting operation being advanced by the pressure in cylinder B, a distancecorresponding to that between the bolts, and" the cutter head being automatically engaged with the next bolt the advance of the machine progresses.

In order that the too sudden or forcible return of the rain to the rear end of the cyliuder may be prevented so as to avoid a severe bacleblow on the cylinder, port 9 in valve 3, through which pressinre is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder, is made relatively smaller than port 8 in order to give a relatively slow and easy return of the ram.

It will be observed from the construction described that the pressure cylinder B and. its piston, in addition to its function of holding the cutter bar up to the Work, acts as a cushion for the violent blow delivered by y the ram, the tendency ofthe machine to re bound from the reaction of the pressure hehind the ram, being resisted by the constant pressure in cylinder B on the piston F.

The guiding bar C on which the two cyliuders slide, serves as a means for controlling the path of movement in which the cutter P head advances from one bolt to'the next, and the operator by grasping. the rear end of said bar may either cause the cutter head to advance in a truly horizontal line, or it may be directed at an inclination upward or downward by slightly lowering or raising the guide bar, and in this Way the cutter head may be adjusted to a nicety in cutting relation to the bolts, whether alined in a row. or disposed irregularly.

The form of the valve controlling the pressure to cylinder B is such that the pressure may be cut off and the rear end oi the cylinder'opened t the exhaust, so that the piston after it is advanced intermittently its full stroke in the operation of severing a number of bolts, may be returned to the rear end of the cylinder to begin a new series of operations;

It will be understood that the details of the mechanism may be variously changed and modified within the skill of a mechanic without departing from the limits of my invention, and. provided the operations are substantially as described above, the essence of the invention residing in the cooperation with the cutting mechanism of controllable power means for maintaining the cutter in operative relation to the successive bolts,

and for automatically thrusting the cutter forward after one bolt has been severed, so

I that it will act on the'next.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A machine of the type described including in combination means for positioning the machine for severing a series of bolts, :1 bolt cutter, and automatic means supported by the machine and operating independently of theactuation of the bolt cutter for progressing the cutter from one bolt to another as they are cut.

2. A machine of the type described including in combination means for positioning the machine tor severing a series of bolts,

a bolt cutter, automatic means supported by the machine and operating independently of the actuation of the bolt cutter for progress ing the cutter from one bolt to another, and means for causing the cutter to cut the bolt.

3. In. a vmachine of the type described means for positioning the machine for sever- 7 ing a series of bolts, a bolt cutter, automatic means supported by the machine and operating independently of the actuation of the belt cutter for progressing the cutter from one bolt to another, and.'means controlled by the operator for causing the cutter to cut a bolt.

4. A machine of the type described including in combination'a bolt cutter, automatic means supported by the. ma'chine'and operating thereon and independently of the actuation of the cutter and actingto press the cutter against a bolt, and means tor-giving a cutting movement to the cutter When'so pressed.

o I l n A. mach me of the type described includ-.

ing in combination aguidcf-which may be positioned relatively to aseries of bolts, a,

bolt cutter, actuating means therefor, said cutter and actuating means being movable along said guide to cut the bolts in succession.

(j. A machine of the type described including in combination a guide which may be positioned relatively to a series of bolts, a bolt cutter, actuating means therefor, said cutter and actuating means being automat ically movable along said guide to cut the belts in succ ssion.

7. A machine of the type described including in combination means for positioning the machine with respect to a series of bolts, a bolt cutter, actuating means therefor, and means supported by the machine and operating independently of the actuation of the its actuating means from bolt to bolt as they are cut away.

i 8. A machine of the type described including in combination a bolt cutter, automatic means supported by the machine and operating independently of the actuation of the bolt cutter for progressing the cutter from a cut to an uncutbolt and pressing it against the uncut bolt, and means for causing the c atter to cut the bolt.

9. A machine of the type described includsure means operating independently of the actuation of the bolt cutter for progressing means for causing the cutter to cut the bolt.

10. A machine of the type described including in combination a bolt cutter, automatic fluid pressure means operating independently of the actuation of the bolt cutter for progressing the cutter from one bolt to another, and means for causing the cutter to cut the bolt.

11. A machine of the type described including in combination a cutter, means for imparting a cutting movement thereto, and fluid pressure means for progressing said cutter and said means from point to point along the work.

12. A machine of the type described including in combination a cutter, means for means for progressingsaid cutter and said means from point to point along the work between the cutting movements.

13. A machine of, the type described ineluding in combination a boltcutter, means for positionlng the cutter for cutting a series of bolts, means for imparting a cutting \niovemcnt to the cutter, and automatic means carried by the machine independently of the cutter-actuating means for maintaining the cutter and its actuating means in operative relation as the cutter progresses from bolt to' bolt.

/ 14.. A machine of the type cluding in combination abolt cutter, means bolt cutter for progressing the cutter and ing in con'ibinatioi'i a bolt cutter, fluid presimparting a cutting n'iovement thereto, and

the cutter trom one bolt to another, and p described in a relatively continuous pressure upon the 'cutter and the other imparts a relatively cylinder, a

short and forceful movement to the cutter.

16. A machine of the type described including in combination a bolt cutter, means for imparting a quick, forcible cutting movement thereto, a guide along which said cutter and said means progress, and fluid pressure means for so progressing them.

17. In a machine of the type described, the combination with a cylinder, of a. cutting head, a stem on the headprojecting, into the 1 in the cylinder adapted on the admission of pressure to strike the cutter stein a forcible blow, a second cylinder flexibly connected with the first, and a piston cut therein acting to cushion the blow of the ram.

18. In a machine of the type described, the combination with a cutting device and its operating mechanism, of a pressure cylinder, a, device adapted to form a flexible connection between the pressure cylinder and a partbearing a lixed relation to the work operated on, a piston in said pressure cylinder, means for subjecting the same to pressure, and a piston. rod acting on said flexible connection to subject-it to strain.

19. In a machine of the type described, the combination with a cutting device and its 0 ,erating mechanism, of a pressure cyl nder, a chain connected operative'ly with said cyl inder and adapted to be connected also with a. part bearing a fixed relation to the work operated on, a piston in said cylinder, means for subjecting the same to pressure, and a piston rod engaging the chain.

20. In a machine of the typedescribed, the

combination. of a. cutting device and its operating mechanism, a pressure cylinder, a chain having operative connection with the cylinder at its forward end, a guide at the rear.

end of the cylinder around which the chain passes, said chain being adapted to have its free end connected with a part bearing a fixed relation with the work operated on, a piston in said cylinder adapted to be subjected to pressure, and a piston rod engaged with the chain.

21. A portable stay boltcutter comprising a cuttei actuating cylinder A. and a pressure cylinder I connected in fixed relations and adapted to be flexibly suspended from above, a cuttingv head sust ined by cylinder A,

I l t l i l I t l l l i i l i l l l l i l means i" or operating the cutter head to sever the bolts, a flexible connecting means between the cylinders and a part bearing a fixed relation to the work operated on, a piston in the pressure cylinder adapted to be subjected to pressure, and a piston rod bearhug on said flexible connecting means.

A portable stay bolt cutter comprising a cylinder A; and a cylinder B connected in fixed relations one above the other and adapted tofbe sustained so that, they may move forward, a cutter head sustained by cylinder A, means for operating thesame to sever the bolts, a chain having one end operatively connected with the cylinders and adapted at its free end to be engaged with a part bearing a fixed relation to the bolt to be severed, a piston in the cylinder 13 adaptedio bezsub jected to pressure, and a piston rod engaging the chain.

a guiding rod adapted to be connected with a part bearing a fixed relation to the bolt to be severed, cylinders Aejm'd B connected together in fixed relations and mounted on said guiding rod to move "thereon, a cutter-- head sustained by cylinder A, means for operating the same, a piston in cylinder B, means for subjecting the same to pressure, a flexible device operatively connected with the cylinders and adapted to be connected with a part bearing a fixed relation to the bolt to be severed, a piston in the cylinder 33, and a piston rod engaging the flexible device.

2a. In a machine of the type described,

23. A. portable stay bolt cutter comprising i "ion the combination of a cutter-actuating cyllnvder, a cutter head having a stem mounted slidino'ly in the front end of the cylinder a shoulder on the stem outside the cylin er and engaged by the same, a ram movable freely back and forth in the eylinder,'means for the admission of pressure behind the ram to propel the same forward to strike the cutter stem, and power means acting on the cylinder and tending to urge the same constantly forward.

9.5. In a stay bolt cutter, the combination "of a cylinder, a cutter head provided with a stem'extending rearwardly into the forward end of the cylinder, a ram movable freely back and torth in said cyhnder, means for the admission of pressure behind the.

ram whereby it will be propelled rapidly forward and deliver a blow to the stem, and means for returning the ram to the rear end of the cylinder for the next blow.

526. In a stay bolt cutter, the combination of a guiding rod adapted to be engaged at its forward end with a. part bearing; a, fixed relation to the bolts to be severed, and movable rertically at its rear end, a cutter actuating; cylinder mounted on said rod to inoye forward. a cutting device sustained by the cylinder and adapted to be thrust fortuated means operating on the cylinder and ward as the cylinder advances, means for actuating the cutting device, and power acacting to urge the same constantly forward.

27. A machine of the type described in cluding in combination a cylinder, a bolt cutter, a ram movable in the cylinder by fluid pressure to strike the cutter a blow, and automatic means for causing the cutter to travel from one bolt to another ofa series as they are severed. I j

28. "A machine of the type described including in combination a cylinder, a bolt cutter, a ram movable in the cylinder by fluid pressure to strike the cutter a blow, and

automatic means for causing the cutter and cylinder to travel from one bolt to another of a series as they are severed.

29. A machine of-the type described including 'in combination a cylinder, a bolt cutter, a ram movable in the cylinder by fluid pressure to strike the cutter a blow, and means under the control of the operator for moving the ram to and fro in the cylinder.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this l3thday of May, 1908, in the presv ence of two attesting witnesses.

, onovnn s. LOWE.

Witnesses:

- G. R. RosBonoUGH,

I A. L, WARNER. 

